Empty case ejector for automatic gun systems



June 9, 1964 P. H. GlRouARD ETAL 3,133,212

EMPTY CASE EJECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC GUN SYSTEMS original Filed Aug. 21'. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTYS June 9, 1964 P. H. GIROUARD ETAL 3,136,212

EMPTY cAsrs.` EJEcToR TOR AUTOMATIC GUN sYsTEMs original Filed Aug. 2T, 1952 6 sheets-sheet 2 JM//EW Fi" l a INVENTORS PH/u as Il. Gma un RD CN KH/cfrNANJIA-cfzn GAR d. MNE JoH/v l. Nils M/LTa/v c. /vf AN Hann/50N Ran/ampli Tf/au cca 15K B y ATTYS June 9, 1964 P. H. GIROUARD ETAL EMPTY CASE EJECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC GUN SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 2'?, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 aF 'EMP T r cls: nu r IN VEN TORS PH/Lms H. /Rm/ARIJ wm ffl/cl( /Mpzcsnssn 64km 4. AWA/5 .fof/N I. NELSON MILTON C. ,V60/WAN [MRR/50N RANDOLPH P. H. GIROUARD ETAL 3,136,212

EMPTY CASE EJECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC GUN SYSTEMS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 9, 1964 Original Filed Aug. 27.

June 9, 1964 P. H. GlRouARD ETAL 3,136,212

EMPTY CASE EJECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC GUN SYSTEMS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 27. 1952 m ma Mn @Mum @AAS @MKM HMA upr. Mmmm mmm@ THOMAS C. COL UER mov.

Arron/vers June 9, 1964 P. H. GIROUARD ETAL EMPTY CASE EJECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC GUN SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 27, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 HTTRIVEYS United States Patent Q ice aisaziz Patented June 9, 1964 3,136,2l2 EMPTY CASE EJE-@TOR FR AUTGMATC GUN SYSTEMS Philias H. Girouard, Washington, @.C., Carl V. Hickman,

deceased, tate of Kensington, Md., by Jean W.

Hickman, administratrix, Washington, lllC., Garoid A.

Kane, .lohn l. Nelson, Milton C. Neuman, and Harrison Randolph, Minneapoiis, Minn., and Thomas C. Qoilier,

Portsmouth, NH., assigner-s, by mesne assignments, to

the United States ai America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Original application Aug. 27, 1952, Ser. N 396,512.

Divided and this application July 25, 1958, Ser. No.

1 Claim. (Cl. Sil-35) The present invention relates to major caliber guns with calibers of the order of magnitude of ve inches or greater preferably employing separate or semidixed ammunition and intended to be effective for both anti-aircraft and surface fire and particularly to the mount structure for such guns and the ammunition handling features thereof.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 306,612, tiled August 27, 1952, by the present applicants.

In guns of this caliber it is highly desirable that a substantially normal or conventional position of the gun trunnions be maintained in order to keep the weight of the gun at a minimum in effecting a proper gun balance. In the present invention the gun can be loaded in any position of elevation and of course in any position of turning or training. This makes the invention of high utility in anti-aircraft use.

The instrumentalities for so loading the gun are practically' all automatic in their operation and when so operated, are for the most part hydraulically actuated, suitable interlocks being provided to insure the proper sequence of operation and to prevent improper liring of the gun.

While the gun of the present invention is to be understood as having a conventional turret mounting, in that it is intended primarily for naval use, this is not necessarily essential. Other well known types of gun mountings may be employed within the purview of the present invention to make the gun available for general military use', whether naval or otherwise. While in the embodiment of the invention illustrated only one gun is shown, it is obvious that the inventive concepts and much of the structure described would be equally applicable to a mount carrying more than one gun.

The mount in general has means for supplying ammunition to the gun including a lower hoist installed on the fixed structure of the ship or other foundation. Said hoist comprises one or more hoist tubes. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, said hoist comprises a pair of spaced tubes. The units or rounds of ammunition are automatically fed to said tubes respectively by loaders. There is a loader for each tube and the units or rounds of ammunition are manually fed to said loaders. (It may be noted that this is the only manual operation involved in the operation of the mount while in automatic operation, and further that the manual feed can be continued in order to replenish the ammunition in the various mount parts receiving the same at all times during automatic operation.)

The said loaders are identical and while their structure may be varied to suit the particular ammunition used, in

cases and projectiles are pushed against and past said' doors through said openings into said chambers in the respective drums. Said drums are automatically rotated or indexed and means are provided for preventing indexing while ammunition is being fed into said drums and for locking said doors to prevent feeding of ammunition while said drums are being indexed. This protects the operators. The drums move the projectiles and powder cases into alignment with and into said hoist tubes or passages. tubes to elevate the ammunition in said tubes to a rotatable carrier. A support is provided for the projectile when moved into said tube and this support is moved from beneath the projectile allowing the latter to rest on top of the powder case and the round is thus moved up in tandem with the projectile riding directly on the powder case plug. The chains in the lower hoist tubes are equipped with retaining members which prevent shucking of the ammunition units during deceleration of the hoist.

The carrier to which the round of ammunition is delivered by said lower hoist is rotatably mounted on a central column which depends from the gun supporting' portion or mount proper. The said carrier has circumferentially spaced chambers which receives the ammunition from the tubes of said lower hoist. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, said chambers in the carrier are spaced degrees apart. The carrier is automatically rotated to bring the chambers thereof into alignment with one or more tubes or passages of an upper hoist, which upper hoist is carried by and rotates withV the gun or the mount proper. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the upper hoist has two tubes spaced 180 degrees apart. The carrier has a control mechanism which receives information as to the position of the mount proper, and the Velocity and direction of rotation of the mount proper. This information is added 'mechanically and the carrier drive and control mechanism therefor is triggered to cause rotation of the carrierin a direction which will bring its said chambers into alignment with the said tubes of the upper or lower hoists in the shortest period of time. The carrier is provided with latches which are operated to latch it to the upper and lower hoists respectively. Either chamber of said carrier can deliver to either tube of the upper hoist.

The ammunition is automatically transferred laterally from the chambers in the carrier lto the tubes of the upper hoist while the carrier is latched to the upper hoist. Upon completion of the transfer the carrier automatically returns to the lower hoist and is latched thereto in position to receive further ammunition from the lower hoist.

The upper hoist, which is illustrated as a shuttle hoist, elevates the units or rounds of ammunition to a cradle. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated,v two cradles are provided, one at each side of the gun. Said cradles are respectively carried on arms which respectively swing about the axis of the gun trunnions. comprises a casing having a chamber therein which re- The lower hoist has chains 'moving through said' The cradle hoist while said chamber is in a substantially vertical posiv tion, vertically aligned with an upper hoist tube and latched to the upper hoist. The cradle is then automatically swung upward to bring the casing and chamber thereof into position at the rear of the gun and substantially parallel to the gun axis and alongside a transfer tray. The round of ammunition is then automatically transferred laterally or sidewise from the cradle to said transfer tray.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated two transfer trays are provided, one, at each side of the gun adjacent the rear thereof. The round is clamped in position in the transfer tray and while the transfer tray is in its receiving position, the mechanical time fuse is set. The fuse pot of the fuse setter mechanism is automatically moved to engage and set the said time fuse and the fuse pot is then retracted.

Each tray is moved from a receiving position in which it is substantially parallel to the gun axis and at one side and adjacent the rear of the gun, in which position it receives the roundv from the cradle, to a discharging or ramming position in axial alignment with the gun bore. The round is then rammed from the tray into the breech by the rammer. The transfer trays are alternately moved to a ramming position so that one tray is being loaded while the other is having the round rammed therefrom. As soon as the rammer cross-head has cleared the forward end of the transfer tray the transfer tray starts back to receiving position.

The breech block isV raised to closingposition immediately after the rammer is retracted.

As soon as the charge is red the breech block is lowered. The operation of the breech block both in closing and opening is automatically and hydraulically powered. Triggering of the opening cycle of the block is accomplished by valving which is actuated during recoil.

An empty case tray is provided which moves from a receiving position in which it is inV substantially alignment with the gun bore to a Ydischarge position below the gun bore. The empty case tray moves to its receiving position between each movement of a transfer tray to ramming position. Suitable interlocks are provided to prevent any interference of the transfer trays and the empty case tray.

A discharge chute for the empty cases is provided into which the empty cases are discharged by the empty case tray. The empty cases are then moved through said chute and are discharged at the end thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide amount for a gun comprising an empty case tray, means for ejectingan empty case from the breech of said gun into said tray, said tray being movable from a discharging position below the gun bore to a receiving position substantially in coaxial alignment with said bore. Y

Itis still another objectof the invention to provide a mount for a gun having means'for supplying ammunition for said gun including transfer trays at either side made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective View of the mount, some parts being broken away; Y

FIG. la is a schematic perspective view of the upper portion of the mount, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 1b is a vertical section taken substantially on line lb--lb of FIG. 1a looking forwardly as indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the principal portions of the mount;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view in vertical section of the powder case ejecting mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view in vertical section of another part of the powder case ejecting mechanism;

FIG. 5 isa schematic partial sectional View of one end of the empty case ejector.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of theL various parts of the mount, a general description of the mount in connection with the showing in FIGS. 1, 1a, 1b Y' and 2 will be given. -V Y As above stated, the vmount comprises the loader which includes two identical loading devices. Each of these devices comprises the lower casing 20 vand an upper casing 24. A powder case drum Z8 is rotatable in each casing 20 and a projectile drum 40 is rotatable in each casing 24. The powder cases are pushed into the casing 20 and into the powder case drum by the operator. The

case is pushed against and past a pair of. resiliently mounted doors 51 and the projectiles are similarly pushed Y into the casings 24 and into the projectile drum through of said gun adjacent the rear thereof, an emty case tray Y movable from a position below the bore of said gun at the breech thereof to a positionrin axial alignment with said bore, together with means for alternately moving said transfer trays to a discharge position in axial alignment with said bore, and means for moving said empty case tray into axial alignment with said bore between each movement of a transfer tray into such alignment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an empty case ejector chute with means for moving empty cases from the empty case tray into said chute while said tray is in its discharging position, and to progress the same alongV said chute andV past a door at the discharge end thereof, said chute adjacent its discharge end preferably extending through the gun shield.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description case and move the same upwardly in said tubes.

a similar pair of doors 27. The powder case drums and the projectile drums are rotated or indexed step by step and the round of ammunition comprising the powder case and projectile isbro'ught into alignment with the hoist tubes 1900a in the casings 1900 of the lower hoist. Chains 1903 move in the casings 1900 and have pawls 1908 thereon which engage the bottom of the powder projectile rests on top of the powder case and is moved up by the same.-

The lower hoist moves the round comprising the'pow-V der case and a projectile into a round-receiving chamber in a carrier 300. The carrier 300 at its lower end moves within a ring 316 having a circumferential flange supported upon the main deck. The casings 1900'of thev lower hoist at their upper ends are also within ring 316.

The carrier rotates on ball bearings 307 about a centralA column 302 which is secured to a frame'lSa which depends from and is secured to frame 15 and thus depends Y y Carrier 300. has a spider 300b adjacent its lower end. Said carrier:

from the gun support or mount proper.

the gun 10 is mounted. 4Thepround of ammunitionistransferred laterally by suitable mechanism fromA the chambers in the `carrier 300'to the tubes of theupper hoist in casings 301. The carrier 300 is rotated so as to bring the vround-receiving chambers therein into axial alignment with the tubes of the lower hoist and islatched in such position. After receiving the round the carrier is rotated to bring the chambers therein into lateral or radial alignment with the tubes in the upper hoist and is Y latched to the upper hoist in thisV position.

The upper hoist moves the round to and into a cradleV 902. Cradle 902 comprises a generally cylindrical casing open atits receiving end. The cradle when in re- 'Y ceiving position is in axial vertical alignment with a tube The'l of the upper hoist and is latched in this position. Said cradle 902 is carried on an arm 900 which is in turn oscillatably mounted upon a journal projecting from and coaxial with the gun trunnion 12b so that said arm 900 swings about the axis of the gun trunnion. Arm 900 has pivotally connected thereto an arm 904 which comprises a hydraulic cylinder 904:1 and piston @04h so that it is extensible. Arm 904 is pivoted at its other end to the base ring 14. When the round of ammunition has been transferred to the cradle by the upper hoist, arm 904 is extended and the cradle is swung upwardly to a position adjacent the rear of the gun and with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the gun. The cradle is guided in this movement by an arcuate guide bar 992.

` The upper position of the cradle 902 is its discharge position and it is then alongside and parallel to the transfer tray 1100 and is latched to the slide 12. Mechanism is provided to transfer the round sidewisefrom the cradle 902 into the transfer tray 1100. The fuse of the projectile is set by the fuse pot 1531 while the round is in the transfer tray. The transfer tray 1100 is then swung down to be coaxial with the bore of gun and the round is then rammed by the rammer spade 1700 from the tray 1100 into the breech of the gun.

The gun 10 and housing 11 have the usual recoil construction and move relatively to the slide 12. Slide 12 includes large side plates 12a and a tailpiece 12e. The slide is carried on the trunnions 12b. The trunnions are journaledin large side frames 13 which are secured to the base ring 14. Base ring 14 is a large weldment of general rectangular form with rounded corners. The slide and gun are elevated by a power driven pinion engaging the gear segment 16 secured to the slide.

The base ring 14 has secured thereto the gun house Y 19 and the latter is provided with observation blisters 15a.

The gun 10 projects through the gun house 19 and is provided with an arcuate shield 1452. A large bracket 14a depends from base ring 14.

An empty case ejector mechanism is provided which cooperates with the empty case tray. This comprises an elongated conduit or chute 1450, one end of which aligns with one end of the empty case tray 1400, said conduit or chute .curving upwardly and having its other end extending through the shield 1452 of the gun. (See FIGS. 3 to 5.) A member 1454 is provided which is provided with a splined bore which lits a splined shaft 1455 so that memberv1454 is slidable on and guided on said shaft. Member 1454 has a guideway 1454a in its top portion in which tits and is slidable a casing or slide 1456. The slide 1456 is of trough shape being open at its top and of general rectangular form in vertical cross section. Said slide has an end wall to which is pivoted, in suitable lugs by a pivot 1458, a pawl 1460. Pawl 1460 has a flat end which is adapted to engage the end wall of slide 1456,V

as' shown in FIG. 3. Pawl 1460 can swing downwardly but is urged to position engaging the end wall of slide 1456 by a compression coiled spring 1461 which seats in recesses in slide 1456 and pawl 1460. Member 1454 has an extension at one end provided with a bore in which yis disposed one end of a. compression coiled spring 1462 which engages slide 1456 at its other end and urges slide 1456 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Member 1454 has a projection 1454b at its lower end adapted to operate a switch arm 1456a of a switch ISZAB secured to a portion of the slide 12 in which shaft 1455 is supported. Shaft 1455 is supported at its other end in a valve block 1458. Member 1454 is connected by a link rod 1459 to one of a plurality of pivotally connected link members 1457 shown as two in number, to one of which another link member 1463 is pivotally connected. The pivot members 1462 connecting the various members 1459, 1457 and 1463 are provided with rollers 1464 which roll upon a'guide member 1450a which forms the bottom of a trough at the lower side of chute 1450. Rod 1459 has a head portion in which is movable a slide 1465 engaged at one end by a compression coiled spring 1466, which spring is seated at its other end in a bore in rod 1459. A pawl 1468 is pivoted to slide 1465 by a pivot 1469, said pawl having a hat side engaging the bottom of slide 1465. Pawl 1468 is urged to position with said bottom engaging slide 1465 by a compression coiled spring 1470 having its ends seated in recesses in slide 1465 and pawl 1468. Pawl 1468 has a flat surface adapted to engage the end of an empty shell case PCE, as does also pawl 1460.

Link member 1463 is provided with a bore at one end in which ts the cylindrical portion of a slide 1472, best shown in FIG. 5 said slide being urged outwardly of said bore by a compression coiled spring 1473 disposed in said bore and engaging said cylindrical portion and the end of said bore. The movement of slide 1472 out of member 1463 will be limited by a suitable stop not shown. Slide 1472 has pivoted thereto at its forward end by the pivot 1474, a pawl 1476. A member 1477 is also connected by pivot 1474 to slide 1472. Pawl 1476 has a flat surface below pivot 1474 adapted to engage the upper surface of member 1477 and is urged to the position with said surfaces in engagement by a compression coiled spring 1478 having its ends disposed in recesses in members 1476 and 1477. Pawl 1476 has an end surface adapted to engage the end of the shell case PCE.

Casing 1450 has spaced openings 1450!; therein over which are secured cover plates 1480. Said openings form chambers for swinging pawls 1481 which are pivoted to casing 1450 by the pivots 1482. Pawls 1481 are urged downwardly at one side of their pivots by compression coiled springs 1484, the ends of which are respectively disposed in recesses in pawls 1481 and covers 1480.

Member 1454 has connected thereto adjacent its lower end a rod 1485 which at its other end is connected t0 a piston or plunger 1456 movable in a cylinder 1488. Cylinder 1488 extends into the valve block 1458 and a passage 1458a communicates with one end of cylinder 1488, the same extending to a pressure reducing valve 1490. Valve 149i) comprises a valve body 1490:: movable in a chamber 14901), said valve body having a valve portion at one end adapted to engage a valve seat 1458b formed in a passage 1458c communicating with passage 1458a. A compression coiled spring 14900 urges valve body 1490a into engagement with said valve seat. Another passage 1458d is spaced from passage 1458a and communicates with cylinder 1488, the same having therein a How-reducing oriice 1458.'.1. A passage and conduit 1491 extends from passage 1458c to a conduit and passage 1492, later described, which in turn extends to a source of accumulator pressure, PA. Member 1454 has depending from its bottom a pin 1454d adapted to engage the actuating plunger of a switch 1S4AB disposed adjacent valve block 1458. Member 1454 also has a cam surface 14540 adapted to engage and move the actuating arm of a switch IS3A.

Cylinder 1488 extends into another valve block 1494, as shown in FIG. 4, having therein a passage 1494a which communicates with one end of cylinder 1488 and extends to a chamber 1494i: in valve block 1494. A valve 1496 is movable in chamber 1494i?, the same having a valve rod 1496a which is connected to the core of a solenoid S52 disposed in a casing 1498. Valve 1496 has an axial passage 1496c extending from one end thereof and having radial outlets into valve chamber 1494b at its other end. Rod 1496@ is also pivotally connected by a pivot pin 1499 to a lever 1500 pivoted at its midpoint on a pivot 1502 in casing 1498. Lever 1500 at its other end is pivotally connected to the core of a solenoid S81 disposed in casing i 1498. Lever 1500 has a projection at one side with converging surfaces disposed substantially at 60 degrees to each other, which surfaces are arranged to be engaged by the surfaces of a plunger 1505 disposed in the bore of a bracket 1506 in casing 1498. Plunger 1505 also has converging surfaces disposed at an angle of substantially 60 degrees and said plunger is urged toward lever 1500 by a compression coiled spring 1508 disposed in bracket .7 1506 and in a bore in plunger 1505. Lever 1500 has at opposite sides of itsl pivot, lugs 1501 adapted to operate respectively switches IS101A and IS102A in the diierent positions of said lever.

Valve box 1494 has a passage 1494c therein communieating with cylinder 1488 at some distance from passage 149461. Passage 1494c has therein a chamber 1494c1 in which is disposed a pressure reducing valve 1510. Valve 1510 can be moved by the pressure of the liquid to cut off or close passage 1494c and is urged to a non-closing position by a compression coiled spring 1511. A passage and conduit 1494d communicates with valve chamber 1494b. Another passage and conduit 1494s extends from one end of valve chamber 14941: to a reduced pressure line. Passage and conduit 1492 communicates with valve chamber 1494b. A passage and conduit 1494f communicates at one end With valve chamber 1494b and extends to a cylinder 1514 having therein a valve chamber 1514a in which moves a piston 1515 having a rod 1515a connected thereto which is pivotally connected at its other end by pivot 1516 kto a door 1518 adapted to close the end of the conduit or chute 1450. Door 1518 is swingable about a pivot 1519. Valve rod 1515a extends through the shield 1452 and through a bracket 14525: on which door 1518 is mounted. A compression coiled spring 1517 surrounds rod 1515a in chamber 1514a, the same engaging the end of said chamber at one end and engaging piston 1515 at its other end. Spring 1517 acts to move piston 1515 and close door 1518.

Operation of Empty Case Ejector In the operation the member 1454 is reciprocated in its guide shaft 1455 and the pawl 1460 engages the closed end of the empty shell case PCE in the empty case tray 1400 and moves said shell toward the discharge end of chute 1450. It will be seen that as member'1454 and members 1459, 1463 and 1457 are moved to the right,

as shown in FIG. 3, the pawls 1460, 1468 and 1476 can swing down so as to pass under the empty shell cases and under the rims at the ends thereof. The empty shell cases are frictionally and resiliently engaged by the pawls 1481 so that their movement is somewhat retarded and regulated and said cases held against their lower supports. The empty shell cases can of course move past pawls 1481 toward the discharge end of chute 1450. When member 1454 is moved to its extreme right hand position as shown in FIG. 3 it will move past the end of the empty shell case in the empty case tray so that pawl 1460 will spring up and engage the end of said case. Pawls 1468 and 1476 can also spring up and come into position to engage the ends of the other cases which have been partly discharged. .When member1454 has been moved to its limit of movement away from valve' box 1458, switch ISZAB is actuated as is switch IS102A. When these switches are actuated, an electrical circuit is closed and solenoid SSZ is energized to move valve 1496 andrlever 1500 to the positions shown in FIG. 4. PA can now pass through conduit 1492 and passage 1491 into passage V14580. This will move and open check Valve 1490 and accumulator pressure is placed on the right end of piston 1486 to which rod 1485 is connected. At this time liquid can pass through passage 1494c, through valve 1510 to chamber 1494b and out through passage 1494e to the reduced or super-charge pressure line. Piston 1486 is thus moved to the left, as shown in FIG. 3,.and member 1454 is moved to the left. The empty shell cases are thus moved along toward the discharge end of chute 1450. When member 1454 reaches its limit of movement adjacent valve box 1458, switchesISSA and IS4AB as well as switch IS101A have been actuated.V When these switches are actuated, an electrical circuit is closed and solenoid SSI is energized. This swings lever 1500 and moves valve 1496 to the right, with reference to FIG. 4. PA can now pass from conduit and passage 1492, around valve 1496 to passage 1494a, into cylinder 1488 at the free end of piston 1486. PA is now on both ends of piston 1486 but the greater'area at the free end causes said piston to move to the right and member 1454 is moved to the right. Pawls 1460, 1468 and 1476 are now depressed by and move past the empty shell cases there,-k above and come into position to engage the ends of the empty shell cases respectively to the right of said firstY mentioned shell cases. Pawls 1460, 1468 and 1476 willl thus again engage empty cases'and when member 1454; is againmoved to the left, these cases will be again moved toward the discharge end of chute 1450. Member 1454 will move out of alignment with the empty case tray in this discharge movement so that said tray can thenv again be swung to its receiving position. Switch ISSA indicates thatV member 1454 is out of the way and that the empty case tray can then be swung upwardly toits reV ceiving position. The springs 1462, 1466 and 1473 act to cushion the impact of pawls 1460, 1468 and 1476 against Vthe shell cases and to resiliently move them. It will be noted that the ends of piston 1436 are tapered. When said piston approaches the ends of its movements, someY liquid is trapped in the ends ofcylinder 1488 and this causes a deceleration of plunger 1486. Oriice 1458e and valve 1510 also act to retard and decelerate the movement of piston 1486 as it reaches the ends ment. Y

When the valve 1496 is in the position shown in FIG. 4 and member 1454 is to be moved toward the discharge end of chute 1450, PA can pass around valve 1496 into passage and conduit 14941 to valve chamber1514zz and this will kmove Valve 1515 and rod 1515a outwardly to the position shown in (FIG. 5, thus swinging door 1518 to its open position shown. When valve 1496 is moved to position yto cause member 1454 to move away from valve block 1458, the conduit and passage 1494)c will be connected through the opening 1496c in valve 1496 to passage and conduit 1492 and spring 1517 can then move, valve 1515 and Vclose door 1518. Door 1518 is thus only` open when an empty shell case is to be discharged. Saidi splashing of water into chute door is provided to prevent 1450 in a heavy sea; Y

From the above description it will be seen'that the empty powder cases are successively moved from the,

empty case tray, through chute 1450 and out of the end of said chute through door 1518. Y

The device has been amply tested in actuatal operation. p Y It has had long tests in the factory and has had a thorough test at the Navy and found to be very successful.

proving grounds. The mount is now being produced in considerable numbers for the Navy..

It will of course be understood that various changes Vmay be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, Vconsists in a.

device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, i

in thevparts'and combinations of parts disclosed and dened in the appended claim. 'l

What is claimed is:

anda discharge -end Yon the exteriorrof said housing, a

swingably mounted tray for conveying shell casings to a position in axial alignmentwith the receiving end of said chute, a plurality of spring-biased retractable iirst pawls pivotally mounted along the interior wallv of said chuteY and spaced at intervals greater than the length of one of said casing and being operable to permit passage of said l one casing toward said discharge end while prohibiting passagertoward said receiving end, a guide shaft mounted adjacent said tray and substantially parallel thereto, a

member slidably retained on said guide shaft, a'irst slide Y resiliently mounted on said member, a spring biased reof its move-Vr 9 tractable second pawl pivotally mounted on said rst slide, a link rod attached to said member, an articulated linkage having a plurality of rollers thereon attached to said link rod and mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of said chute, said linkage having a plurality of spring-biased retractable third pawls pivotally carried thereby and spaced at intervals greater than the length of one of said casings, said third pawls being operable to engage said casings when said linkage is caused to move toward said discharge end of said chute and to be depressed when said linkage is caused to move toward said receiving end, a cylinder mounted substantially parallel to said guide 10 shaft, a piston slidable in said cylinder and having a piston rod attached to said member to reciprocate said member through a stroke greater in length than that of one of said casings, and actuating means operably connected to said cylinder for reciprocating said piston.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,591,673 Chadwick et al. Apr. 8, 1952 2,779,243 Molins et al. Jan. 29, 1957 2,823,587 Chadwick et al. Feb. 18, 1958 2,855,828 Girouard et al. Oct. 14, 1958 

